Patient lift with stretcher or platform



July 16, 1968 G. GRAHN 3,392,410

PATIENT LIFT WITH STRETCHER OR PLATFORM Filed Aug. 12, 1966 2Sheets-Sheet I FIGJ INVENTOR.

Ga nnar' Gra h n JMMI- M July 16, 1968 ,G. GRAHN PATIENT LIFT WITHSTRETCHER OR PLATFORM 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed Aug. 12, 1966 FIGS INVENTOR.

Grab :1

3,392,410 PATIENT LIFT WITH STRETCHER R PLATFORM Gunnar Grahn, 18Garvaregatan, Arvidsjaur, Sweden Filed Aug. 12, 1966, Ser. No. 572,062 4Claims. (Cl. -83) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention relates to anapparatus for lifting bedridden persons according to which the apparatusis mounted on a permanent foundation such as a floor or ceiling and isprovided with a free arm for carrying a patient support, which arm isoperable by a jack operably supported by said foundation and having ahandle for operating said jack.

This invention relates to an arrangement for lifting patients, whicharrangement is provided with a stretcher or platform and intendedpreferably for use in connection with moving patients confined to bed.

In a plurality of conventional arrangements for lifting patients thelifting is effected by means of screws and running nuts. However, thesearrangements usually are relatively complicated and, therefore,expensive to produce. In order to lift a patient or a bed, it isnecessary in many cases to use more than one lifting arrangement, whichare interconnected in various 'ways. This arrangement renders theappanatus bulky and difficult to handle. The arrangement according tothe present invention wherein the lift is combined with a stretcher orplatform, is of a simple constnuction easy to operate and in a certainembodiment easy to mount on a bed.

The present invention consists in lifting apparatus for patientscomprising, a stand adapted to be mounted on, or adjacent a bed, or on aseparate structure, an arm mounted at one end on said stand for movementabout a vertical axis and a screw jack mechanism for raising andlowering the free end of the arm relative to the stand, said free endbeing provided with a suspension device for connection to a stretcher orplatform which is adapted to have a patient positioned thereon.

The invention further consists in 'a lifting apparatus for patientscomprising a tubular stand having members for mounting the stand on, oradjacent a bed, or on a separate structure, a tubular arm rotatableabout a vertical 'axis and a screw jack mechanism for moving said armvertically within said tubular stand, the free end of said arm beingprovided with a suspension device for connection to a stretcher orplatform which is adapted to have a patient positioned thereon.

A suitable embodiment of the invention is described in a greater detailin the following, reference being had to the accompanying drawingwhereon FIG. 1 shows a patient lift mounted on a hospital bed with astretcher carriage placed adjacent thereto, the arrangement partiallybeing shown in a section,

FIG. 2 shows the tubular stand with the pivoting arm and with suspensionmeans,

FIG. 3 shows a modified arrangement which obviates the necessity for thebevel gear drive and connecting rod. In this modified arrangement thehandle is connected directly to the screw.

FIG. 4 shows the cushion for lifting the patient, and

FIG. 5 shows a dilferent embodiment of the invention.

The patient lift comprises a tubular stand I mounted on a bed 4 byspecial mounting members 2 and 3. The mounting member 2 at the upper bedbeam is rotatable, thus rendering the lift adjustable to all hospitalbeds.

' United States Patent 0 The mounting member 3 is a cramp iron to betightened by a wing nut. Within the said tubular stand a pivoting arm 5made of a tube bent to approximately a right angle can be moved upwardsand downwards. The said pivoting arm carries at its free end asuspension device 6 to be used for a cushion 7 which is provided withsuspension yokes and/or rods with fastening eyes for lifting cables. Arunning nut 8 attached to the opposite end of the said pivoting arm 5can be moved on a screw 9 inserted in the arm. The said screw can beturned by a crank 10 or the like. Between the crank and the screw a gearmeans may be provided, for example a worm gear 11. In order tofacilitate the operation of the pivoting arm, the arm is provided with ahandle 12 suspended adjacent to the suspension device. The said crank 10can be made easier accessible by providing it with a long connecting rod13.

In FIG. 1 the lift is shown mounted on a patient bed. In certain cases,however, it may be more suitable to mount the lift in the ceiling abovethe bed or an operating table. In such a case the housing for the Wormgear 11 is secured to the ceiling and constitutes the stand for thelift.

The lift cushion is preferably made of a strong fabric. To the side ofthe cushion there are rods 14 with handles 15. The lifting cables of thelift can be hooked on the handles 15, for example when the patient is tobe moved from an ambulance stretcher to a stretcher carriage, forexample in case of an accident.

A patient to be moved from a bed to a stretcher carriage is first placedon the stretcher or platform which is introduced below the patient. Thecushion is fastened in suspending cables whereafter the patient is woundup and swung over to the stretcher carriage placed to the side of thebed. The stretcher or platform is loosened from the cables, and thepatient is rolled, for example, to an operation table. Adjacent to theoperation table a same lift is provided which, however, may havefastening means of a somewhat different type. The said lift, forexample, may be secured in a tube cast in the floor or on a plate withan expanding bolt. The stretcher or platform can be hooked into thesuspending arm of the operation lift whereafter the patient is swungover to the operation table. For moving the patient back to the bed, theprocedure is repeated in a corresponding manner. According to theconventional method, a patient must be lifted four times by at leastthree nurses for every lift. With the lifting arrangement according tothe invention, the procedure can be carried out by one nurse alone. Thelift may also be mounted on a stand running on wheels for easily movingthe lift. The stand is provided with means adapted for fastening thestand on the cross-beams of a bed. The said fastening means may be hooks2' for the upper bed beam, and a cramp iron 3' with wing nut for thelower beam, see FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 shows a different embodiment particularly intended to be mountedin the ceiling in a place where there is need of a long horizontallifting arm, for example in bathrooms or wards where it is desirable toreach two beds at the same time. The lift is secured in the ceiling by aplate 16 from which a rod 17 projects downwards. About the rod a tube 18is mounted which at its lower end supports the arm 5 which is verticallypivoted at the hinge 19. The arm is swung upwards and downwards inrelation to the tube 18 by means of the worm gear 11, the running nut 8and the screw 9. The said screw is secured at the worm gear 11, and theworm gear is articulated at the tube 18. The running nut 8 is mounted inthe arm 5' via the link 21 and the hinge 22. The arm 5' and the tube 18with the worm gear 11 can be turned by the rod 17. The tube 18 restswith its lower end on a 3 support plate 20 fastened at the lower end ofthe rod 17.

The patient lift with the stretcher or platform can be designed indifferent Ways within the scope of the following claims. The stretcheror platform may consist of one or several pieces, and the control meansmay be designed in a way different of that exemplified above. The crankmay be replaced by a motor which possibly can be operated by the patientwith the help of push-buttons.

What I claim is:

1. A lifting apparatus for invalids comprising, a stand mounted on aseparate foundation, an arm mounted at one end of said stand formovement about a vertical axis and a screw jack mechanism for raisingand lowering the free end portion of the arm relative to the stand, saidfree end portion being provided with a suspension device for connectionto a platform for supporting an invalid positioned thereon, said screwjack mechanism comprising a nut mounted on a screw, means for rotatingsaid screw, and a gear operatively positioned between said means forrotating said screw and said screw.

2. A lifting apparatus for patients as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidgear, said running nut, said arm and screw, are all mounted on a tubewhich is rotatably supported by a vertical rod suspended from saidfoundation.

3. A lifting apparatus for invalids comprising, a stand mounted on aseparate foundation, an arm mounted at one end of said stand formovement about a vertical axis and a screw jack mechanism for raisingand lowering the free end portion of the arm relative to the stand, saidfree end portion being provided with a suspension device for connectionto a platform for supporting an invalid positioned thereon, said screwjack mechanism comprising a nut mounted on a screw, means for rotatingsaid screw, said screw being formed by the end portion of the armopposite said free end.

4. A lifting apparatus for invalids comprising, a stand mounted on aseparate foundation, an arm mounted at one end of said stand formovement about a vertical axis and a screw jack mechanism for raisingand lowering the free end portion of the arm relative to the stand, saidfree end portion being provided with a suspension device for connectionto a platform for supporting an invalid positioned thereon, said screwjack mechanism comprising a nut mounted on a screw, means for rotatingsaid screw, said tubular arm being provided with a handle forfacilitating the rotary movement of said arm.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 982,289 1/1941 Miller 5842,348,778 5/1944 Black 583 2,565,595 8/1951 Cooper 583 X 2,962,73012/1960 Carnes et a1. 586 2,975,434 3/1961 Butler et al 586 3,123,2243/1964 Karl 581 3,137,011 6/1964 Fischer 586 3,203,009 8/1965 Lundberg586 X 3,275,296 9/1966 Meyer 2548 CASMIR A. NUNBERG, Primary Examiner.

